Post by Ann on Oct 27, 2005 7:41:40 GMT -5
A GOOD LESSON IN LIFE
When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in
day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee.
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. The professor then
picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar
lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He
then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of
course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar
was full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes." The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand.
The students laughed.
"Now," said the professor as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important
things--God, your family, your children, your health, your friends and your
favorite passions--and if everything else was lost and only they remained,
your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter
like your job, your house and your car. The sand is everything else--the
small stuff." "If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there
is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you
spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room
for the things that are important to you. "Pay attention to the things that
are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get
medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There
will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of
the golf balls first--the things that really matter. Set your priorities.
The rest is just sand." One of the students raised her hand and inquired
what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked."
As he poured the coffee into the jar, he said, "It just goes to show you
that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple
of cups of coffee with a friend."
When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in
day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee.
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. The professor then
picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar
lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He
then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of
course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar
was full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes." The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand.
The students laughed.
"Now," said the professor as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important
things--God, your family, your children, your health, your friends and your
favorite passions--and if everything else was lost and only they remained,
your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter
like your job, your house and your car. The sand is everything else--the
small stuff." "If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there
is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you
spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room
for the things that are important to you. "Pay attention to the things that
are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get
medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There
will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of
the golf balls first--the things that really matter. Set your priorities.
The rest is just sand." One of the students raised her hand and inquired
what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked."
As he poured the coffee into the jar, he said, "It just goes to show you
that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple
of cups of coffee with a friend."
